Editors’ Notes

The long-awaited third studio album from Newmarket, Ontario's Tokyo Police Club features the kind of attention-grabbing hooks that sound so easy and obvious that whatever “alternative” status the group once had must be surrendered for a mainstream pop pedigree. Then again, the writing for Forcefield began in mid-2011, so the process was never as easy as it sounds. But the assured production from Doug Boehm (who has worked magic for Dr. Dog and Girls) and the band’s singer/bassist David Monks is a testament to bright, shiny textures overruling all else. Even the extended eight-plus-minute opener, “Argentina (Parts I, II, III),” retains an accessibility that most bands of TPC’s caliber eventually abandon. “Hot Tonight” is the obvious single, but “Gonna Be Ready,” “Tunnel Vision," and “Through the Wire” also offer up that summer vibe that bands from Foster the People and The Hold Steady to Passion Pit and French Kicks have all been trying to write with varying degrees of success for years.

Customer Reviews

I, too, feel the effects

by
alastherider

It's true that bands mature, as well they should, but when you're Tokyo Police Club, growing up just isn't in the cards. A high-energy, explosive, fun band, their previous albums and EP were full of life.

And then there's Forcefield.

The band are either bored, stopped taking drugs, or started taking drugs. Whatever the case, this album is lifeless. A phoned-in waste of instruments and sound. It was bound to happen some day. I just hoped that day wasn't for another decade, or so.

Done it Again

by
TheRedHood350

I was fortunate to pick up the Indie Record Store bootleg put out by the band. I've listened to this album quite a few times. I've enjoyed it more and more each time. I'm not a die hard fan of the band, but I do have all their albums. The standouts on here are of course Argentina I, II, III which is a great song along with Through the Wire which grew on me more and more with each listen and now is my favorite on the album. Hot Tonight is your radio hit while Tunnel Vision is the great track that most will probably overlook. This is a great album, a must buy for fans or anyone looking for something different or looking to broaden their horizons.

SXSW Shows Were Amazing

by
adsfy901

Heard a lot of the new tracks at SXSW. Wow, what an amazing show. Gotta check these guys out if they come to your town. My buddy and I agreed - TPC was the best show we saw at South by Southwest.

Biography

Formed: 2005 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Genre: Alternative

Years Active: '00s, '10s

Toronto's quirky, high-energy indie rock outfit Tokyo Police Club feature vocalist/bassist Dave Monks, keyboardist/vocalist Graham Wright, guitarist/percussionist Josh Hook, and drummer/percussionist Greg Alsop. The band formed in the wake of the breakup of the foursome's previous project; after taking a break for several months, the musicians regrouped as Tokyo Police Club in 2005. They began performing live that summer, and that fall they played the Montreal Pop Festival, where the audience's rousing...